Cabinet - Tuesday, 4th April, 2017 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

Venue: Concorde Room, Council Offices, Farnborough

Contact: Chris Todd, Democratic Services  on 01252 398825 or e-mail:  chris.todd@rushmoor.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

108.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 235 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 7th March, 2017 (copy attached).

 

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 7th March, 2017 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

109.

REVENUE BUDGET MONITORING AND FORECASTING 2016/17 - POSITION AT MARCH, 2017 pdf icon PDF 310 KB

To consider the Head of Financial Services’ (Amanda Fahey) Report No. FIN1713 (copy attached), which sets out the Council’s anticipated financial position for 2016/17 based on the monitoring exercise carried out during March, 2017.

Presented By: Councillor Paul Taylor, Corporate Services Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1713, which set out the anticipated financial position for 2016/17, based on the monitoring exercise carried out during March 2017. It was proposed that, should the savings reported in Section 3 of the Report be realised, then transfers should be made to and from the Stability and Resilience Reserve  and the Service Improvement Fund to leave the General Fund balance at £2 million, which was at the top of the range set out in the Medium Term Financial Strategy. The Report explained that several variances had been identified and these were set out in Appendix B to the Report.

 

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

 

(i)           the latest Revenue Budget monitoring position, as set out in the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1713,  be noted;

 

(ii)          the estimates for the use of the Service Improvement Fund, as set out in the Report, be approved; and

 

(iii)         the transfers between the General Fund, the Stability and Resilience Reserve and the Service Improvement Fund, as set out in the Report, be approved in principle, subject to the final outturn position.

110.

CAPITAL PROGRAMME MONITORING AND FORECASTING 2016/17 - POSITION AT MARCH, 2017 pdf icon PDF 223 KB

To consider the Head of Financial Services’ (Amanda Fahey) Report No. FIN1714 (copy attached), which sets out the Council’s position regarding the Capital Programme for 2016/17 based on the monitoring exercise carried out during March, 2017.

Presented By: Councillor Paul Taylor, Corporate Services Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

The Cabinet received the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1714, which provided the latest forecast regarding the Council’s Capital Programme for 2016/17, based on the monitoring exercise carried out during February and March 2017. The Report advised that the Capital Programme for 2016/17, following additions approved during the year, totalled £28,107,000. The recent monitoring exercise had identified that, due to a number of slippages and underspends, the forecasted outturn was approximately £25,407,000, with a forecasted shortfall of £2,700,000 against the approved Programme. The identified areas of slippage were set out in the Report.

 

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

 

(i)           the latest Capital Programme monitoring position, as set out in the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1714, be noted; and

           

(ii)          the 2016/17 capital budget virement of £52,000 from the Beaumont Wall railings scheme to the main wall renovations scheme, as set out in the Report, be approved.

 

111.

STRATEGY FOR THE FLEXIBLE USE OF CAPITAL RECEIPTS 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 275 KB

To consider the Head of Financial Services’ (Amanda Fahey) Report No. FIN1715 (copy attached), which sets out a draft strategy for the flexible use of capital receipts for 2017/18, for submission to the Council.

Presented By: Councillor Paul Taylor, Corporate Services Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

The Cabinet received the Head of Financial Services' Report No. FIN1713, which provided an update on the flexible use of capital receipts, as approved at the Council Meeting on 21st April, 2016 and set out the planned strategy for 2017/18.

 

Members were reminded that the Council had set a strategy in April 2016 to take advantage of the favourable short term relaxation of expenditure rules relating to the treatment of costs as capital expenditure. Guidance relating to the scheme required that the Council should produce an annual strategy and also provide an update on projects approved in previous years, and these were set out in the Report. Members were supportive of the approach being taken.

 

The Cabinet

 

  (i)          RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNCIL that approval be given to the Strategy for the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts 2017/18; and

 

 (ii)          RESOLVED that

 

                (a)                      the contents of the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1713 be noted;

 

                (b)                      the updated estimates for the use of the £500,000 capital receipt obtained in 2016/17 be approved; and

 

                (c)                      a variation to the Capital Programme for 2017/18 of £300,000 be approved.

 

112.

NEW DISCRETIONARY RATE RELIEF POLICY - GROWTH INCENTIVE RELIEF POLICY pdf icon PDF 675 KB

To consider the Head of Financial Services’ (Amanda Fahey) Report No. FIN1716 (copy attached), which sets out a proposed new policy to attract inward investment and economic growth.

Presented By: Councillor Gareth Lyon, Concessions and Community Support Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the Head of Financial Services' Report No. FIN1716, which set out a proposed new Business Rates Relief Policy, which was intended to attract inward investment and economic growth.

 

Members were informed that the new policy would allow the Council to use its discretionary powers to award temporary relief to support its growth aims, within the key priority of sustaining a thriving economy and boosting local business. The details of the proposed scheme were set out in Appendix A of the Report.

 

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the adoption of the new Growth Incentive Relief Policy, as set out in the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1716, be approved.

 

113.

REVIEW OF CORPORATE INVESTIGATIONS TEAM pdf icon PDF 937 KB

To consider the Head of Financial Services’ (Amanda Fahey) Report No. FIN1717 (copy attached), which sets out proposals in respect of the Council’s Corporate Investigations Officers.

Presented By: Councillor Paul Taylor, Corporate Services Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1717, which set out the work undertaken by the Council’s Investigations Officers during the period January 2016 to March 2017 and proposed the retention of the two posts.

 

Members were informed that the team had, over the previous year, carried out investigatory work that had resulted in financial savings to the Council of £267,939, with over 2,300 individual cases looked at. The budget for the team in 2017/18 was £98,120.

 

The Cabinet was supportive of the work being carried out in this area and agreed that the proposal represented good value to the Council. 

 

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the retention of the two posts within the Council’s Corporate Investigations Team, as set out in the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1717, be approved.

114.

RUSHMOOR LOCAL PLAN - DRAFT SUBMISSION CONSULTATION pdf icon PDF 15 MB

To consider the Head of Planning’s (Keith Holland) Report No. PLN1701 (copy attached), which sets out the draft submission Rushmoor Local Plan for consultation.

Presented By: Councillor Martin Tennant, Environment and Service Delivery Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the Head of Planning's Report No. PLN1701, which set out the Draft Submission Rushmoor Local Plan, which would, subject to the Cabinet’s endorsement, be submitted to the Council at its meeting on 20th April, 2017 to seek approval to carry out a statutory six-week consultation exercise.

 

In response to questions, Members were informed that, whilst some hard copies would be available during the consultation period, consultees would be encouraged to access the document electronically. It was explained that neighbouring authorities were at varying stages in the production of their Local Plans but Members were assured that this would not have a material effect on Rushmoor or the production of the Rushmoor Local Plan.

 

The Cabinet RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNCIL that

 

(i)           the draft Rushmoor Local Plan, as set out at Annex A to the Head of Planning’s Report No. PLN1701, be approved for public consultation;

 

(ii)          the changes to the Policies Map, as set out at Annex B to the Report, be approved for public consultation; and

 

(iii)         the Head of Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Service Delivery, be authorised to make any necessary minor amendments, including any necessary changes arising from the Environment Policy and Review Panel, to the Local Plan, Policies Map and supporting documentation, prior to the commencement of public consultation.

115.

PROPOSED INCREASE IN PLANNING APPLICATION FEES pdf icon PDF 138 KB

To consider the Head of Planning’s (Keith Holland) Report No. PLN1702 (copy attached), which sets out details of an urgency decision taken in respect of an increase in the level of planning application fees.

Presented By: Councillor Ken Muschamp, Business, Safety and Regulation Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the Head of Planning’s Report No. PLN1702, which notified the Cabinet of an urgency decision to approve an increase in planning application fees by 20% from July 2017. It was confirmed that the Department for Communities and Local Government had written to all local planning authorities allowing them to increase the nationally set planning application fees, so long as the additional fee income would be invested in the planning department. It was not known at this point exactly how the additional income would be spent. In response to a question, it was confirmed that the relatively small increase in fees was not likely to deter potential developers. 

 

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the actions taken, as set out in the Head of Planning’s Report No. PLN1702, be noted.

116.

CUSTOMER AND DIGITAL STRATEGY pdf icon PDF 3 MB

To consider the Head of IT and Facilities Services’ (Nick Harding) Report No. IT1701 (copy attached), which sets out the Council’s draft Customer and Digital Strategy, for submission to the Council on 20th April, 2017.

Presented By: Councillor Paul Taylor, Corporate Services Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

The Cabinet received the Head of IT and Facilities Services’ Report No. IT1701, which introduced the draft Rushmoor Borough Council Customer and Digital Strategy 2017 – 2020 that would, subject to the Cabinet’s endorsement, be submitted to the Council at its meeting on 20th April, 2017 for adoption.

 

It was explained that that the proposed Customer and Digital Strategy pulled together in one document the Council’s digital ambitions, five key themes and action plans and set out the Council’s general direction of travel in this area. In response to a question, Members were informed that the Council was likely to move towards cloud based solutions in the relatively short term. Information was provided on the opportunities of smart cities and the future challenges of addressing digital inclusion and cyber security. The Cabinet was supportive of the Strategy and the approach being proposed.

 

The Cabinet RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNCIL that the Council’s Customer and Digital Strategy 2017 - 2020, as set out in the Head of IT and Facilities Services’ Report No. IT1701, be approved.

117.

FIRST WESSEX REQUEST FOR ALLOCATION OF CAPITAL GRANT FUNDING pdf icon PDF 2 MB

To consider the Head of Environmental Health and Housing’s (Qamer Yasin) Report No. EHH1710 (copy attached), which sets out a request from First Wessex for an allocation of Capital Grant for a scheme of new affordable homes.

Presented By: Councillor Barbara Hurst, Health and Housing Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the Head of Environmental Health and Housing’s Report No. EHH1710, which set out a request from First Wessex for the allocation of £46,000 from the Council’s budget for Capital Grants to Registered Providers of Social Housing 2017/18 for a scheme of new affordable homes. The allocation, along with other funding streams, would facilitate the delivery of four three-bedroom, family homes, with the Council having 100% nomination rights on the first lets. It was anticipated that construction would start in late Spring 2017.

 

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the allocation of £46,000 from the Council’s budget for Capital Grants to Registered Providers of Social Housing 2017/18, as set out in the Head of Environmental Health and Housing’s Report No. EHH1710, be approved.

118.

GRANTS TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS pdf icon PDF 188 KB

To consider the Head of Community and Environmental Services’ (Peter Amies) Report No. COMM1709 (copy attached), which sets out applications for grants from voluntary organisations.

Presented By: Councillor Gareth Lyon, Concessions and Community Support Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

The Cabinet

 

(i)           NOTED that the following grants totalling £2,850 had been approved by the Cabinet Member for Concessions and Community Support:

 

Creating Futures

£1,000

7th Farnborough Scout Group

£350

Parkside       

£500

2nd Aldershot Scout Group

£1,000

                                                                       

(ii)          NOTED that the following Ward Community Grants totalling £3,350 had been approved by the Cabinet Member for Concessions and Community Support:

 

Parkside (Aldershot Park Ward)

£500

Mayfield Community Partnership (Cherrywood Ward)

£150

3rd Farnborough Scout Group (Cherrywood Ward)

£200

Farnborough Street Resident Association (Empress Ward)   

£300

3rd Farnborough Scout Group (Empress Ward)           

£200

Fernhill Primary School (Fernhill Ward) 

£250

Fernhill School (Fernhill Ward)   

£250

2nd Aldershot Scout Group (Manor Park Ward)           

£500

The Vine Centre (Wellington Ward)        

£500

Cove Brook Greenway Group (West Heath Ward)

£500

           

(iii)         RESOLVED that grants of £2,000 to Pinewood Family Group Pre-school and £1,500 to The Vine Centre be approved.

 

119.

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

To consider resolving:

 

That, subject to the public interest test, the public be excluded from this meeting during the discussion of the undermentioned item to avoid the disclosure of exempt information within the paragraphs of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 indicated against such items:

 

Item                Schedule      Category

No.                  12A Para.

                        No.

 

13                    3                      Information relating to financial or business affairs

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That, taking into account the public interest test, the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the under mentioned item to avoid the disclosure of exempt information within the paragraph of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 indicated against the item:

 

Minute           Schedule      Category

No.                  12A Para.

                        No.

 

120                 3                      Information relating to financial or business affairs

THE FOLLOWING ITEM WAS CONSIDERED IN THE ABSENCE OF THE PUBLIC

120.

FORMER OPERATIONAL PROPERTIES AT MANOR PARK, ALDERSHOT

To consider the Solicitor to the Council’s (Ann Greaves) Exempt Report No. LEG1707 (copy attached), which seeks approval for the disposal of freehold land.

Presented By: Councillor Paul Taylor, Corporate Services Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered the Solicitor to the Council’s Exempt Report No. LEG1707, which set out a proposed course of action in relation to two former operational properties situated within Manor Park, Aldershot, known as Manor Park Cottage and Manor Park Lodge.

 

Members heard that both properties had been let out to housing associations for some years but had now been vacated and handed back to the Council, on expiration of their most recent leases. It was explained that the plot in relation to Manor Park Cottage was large enough to accommodate an additional dwelling and it was proposed that planning permission should be sought to achieve this. It was proposed to refurbish and then let Manor Park Cottage. It was reported that Manor Park Lodge was good condition and was not in need of refurbishment. An amendment to the recommendation was agreed to give authority to the Solicitor to the Council, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, to decide whether to dispose of or let Manor Park Lodge.

 

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

 

(i)        the Solicitor to the Council be authorised to:

 

-               apply for planning permission and secure a contractor to build an additional dwelling in the grounds of Manor Park Cottage;

 

-               let Manor Park Cottage, following its refurbishment;

 

-               in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, to decide whether to dispose of or let Manor Park Lodge;

 

-               take any ancillary steps as necessary to facilitate the above resolutions; and

 

(ii)       approval be given to a variation to the Capital Programme of £211,000 to enable the build of the additional dwelling in the grounds of the Manor Park Cottage, as set out in the Solicitor to the Council’s Exempt Report No. LEG1707.